For the second time, the moss biomonitoring technique was applied to evaluate the deposition of potentially toxic elements in the Republic of Moldova. The study was performed in the framework of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops. Moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. samples were collected in May 2020 from 41 sampling sites distributed over the entire territory of the country. The mass fractions of 35 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Se, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, Cd, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Hf, Ta, Th, Pb, and U) were determined using neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Comparing with 2015/2016 moss survey data, significant differences in the mass fractions of Cr, As, Se, Br, Sr, Sb, Cd, Pb, and Cu were found. Main air pollution sources (natural processes, transport, industry, agriculture, mining) were identified and characterized using factor and correlation analyses. GIS maps were built to point out the zones with the highest element mass fractions and to relate this to the known sources of contamination. Contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, pollution load index, and potential ecological risk index were calculated to assess the air pollution levels in the country. According to the calculated values, Moldova can be characterized as unpolluted to moderately polluted, with low potential ecological risk related to the degree of atmospheric deposition of potentially toxic elements. The cities of Chisinau and Balti were determined to experience particular environmental stress and are considered moderately polluted.

For the first time, moss biomonitoring covering the territory of the entire Moscow region, without including Moscow, was performed in 2020. Moss Pleurozium schreberi collected at 156 sampling sites were analyzed using neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 34 elements were determined in moss samples. Obtained data were compared with the results of the moss surveys performed in the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions in 2018 and with the data of moss surveys conducted in the Moscow region on a limited number of sampling sites in 2004 and 2014. The Moscow region showed to be more polluted than the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions. In the the Moscow region, the decrease of the content of the main part of the elements over time was noted. Trace elements emission sources were identified and characterized using factor analysis. Contamination Factor, Pollution Load Index, and Ecological Risk were calculated to assess the level of the region contamination and elements effect on human health. In general, the Moscow region can be characterized as unpolluted to moderately polluted with a low ecological risk of human exposure. The cities satellites around Moscow were determined to experience particular environmental stress, even in the period of the COVID-19 restrictions.

The performance of the brewer’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to remove metal ions from four batch systems, namely Zn(II), Zn(II)-Sr(II)-Cu(II), Zn(II)-Ni(II)-Cu(II), and Zn(II)-Sr(II)-Cu(II)-Ba(II), and one real effluent was evaluated. Yeast biosorption capacity under different pH, temperature, initial zinc concentration, and contact time was investigated. The optimal pH for removal of metal ions present in the analyzed solution (Zn, Cu, Ni, Sr, and Ba) varied from 3.0 to 6.0. The biosorption process for zinc ions in all systems obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and, in some cases, the Freundlich model was applicable as well. The kinetics of metal ions biosorption was described by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models. Thermodynamic calculations showed that metal biosorption was a spontaneous process. The two-stage sequential scheme of zinc ions removal from real effluent by the addition of different dosages of new sorbent allowed us to achieve a high efficiency of Zn(II) ions removal from the effluent. FTIR revealed that OH, C=C, C=O, C–H, C–N, and NH groups were the main biosorption sites for metal ions.

Anthropogenic activity is the main factor contributing to soil pollution with various toxic metals, including Cr(VI), which dictates the need for decontamination. Often, the traditionally used remediation methods (soil removal, stabilization/solidification, physicochemical extraction, and soil washing) are not sufficiently efficient. Among gentle soil remediation, options can be considered. The aim of this study is to assess the ability of Nostoc linckia to remediate soils contaminated with Cr(VI) in association with other metals. Metal uptake by biomass was assessed using neutron activation analysis, while the components of Nostoc biomass were determined using specific methods. The capacity to accumulate chromium from the contaminated environment (Cr in association with Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) by the Nostoc linckia is kept at a high level for three generations of cyanobacterium, and the capacity to accumulate Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn is growing over the cultivation cycles. The process of accumulation of heavy metals is associated with significant changes in the biochemical composition of Nostoc biomass. Due to the high bioaccumulation capacity and the specific growth mode with the formation of crusts on the soil surface, the edaphic cyanobacteria Nostoc linckia is an important candidate for the bioremediation of soil contaminated with chromium in association with other metals.

The biomass of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was used for metal removal from four industrial effluents with different chemical composition. The process of metal bioaccumulation (alive biomass) and biosorption (dry biomass) was studied at the native effluents pH as well as the pH 9.5. Metal uptake by S. platensis biomass was determined by means of neutron activation analysis (NNA). The obtained results show different affinity of biomass to metals presented in effluents. The results of this study have indicated that S. platensis is a very good candidate for the removal of heavy metals from complex industrial effluents.